IDAHO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COUNCIL
On May 5, 2023, the Idaho Behavioral Health Council (IBHC) held its quarterly meeting and provided updates. Director of Idaho Supreme Courts and IBHC Chair Sara Omundson welcomed all participants and council members to the meeting. She spoke of the tremendous progress the Council and Idaho have made over the past few years. Like always, Director Omundson reviewed the guiding principles and vision that the IBHC abides by, which pilot the progress made.
With many new members on the IBHC, the new project manager, Cheryl Foster, reviewed the implementation roles, framework, and general updates. She noted we are two-thirds of the way through the implementation timeline, but the implementation has surpassed the timeline.
The council reviewed the FY 24 Funded Recommendations and what the 2023 Legislative Session brought for advancing behavioral health in Idaho. The funded recommendations included the following:
Onetime funding for housing initiatives
Ongoing funding for community recovery centers (50% more than the Governor’s Request)
Ongoing funding for the pilot pre-plea intervention program
Onetime pilot low-risk, high-need treatment court or track within existing Inpatient treatment programs through the courts, such as:
IDHW Behavioral Health Plan
IDJC Lewiston Youth Treatment Facility
Some additional recommendations include IDHW secure mental health facility (not funded) and State Hospital South patient treatment facility addition (not funded). The recommendations must be provided by September 1, 2023, for the following legislative session. The public may submit recommendations on how to spend the Opioid State Funds to the IBHC until July 1, 2023.
Laura Keihl, Canyon County, gave an update on the early intervention court program. The pre-plea pilot program will be for those who may have a mental health condition, diagnosed or not, to assist in diversion efforts. Upon a potential person entering custody, a plan is created for screening and then put into the program to dismiss cases upon entering behavioral health treatment; this will target misdemeanor-level offenses and will be a one- to two-year program based on the client’s needs. There are models utilized nationwide, and the Council members are very excited to see this implemented here in Idaho.
The Division of Behavioral Health administrator, Ross Edmunds, spoke on the next steps of the DMI program for Civil Commitments. He spoke about how an individual is deemed competent, dangerous, and mentally ill (DMI). There are two ways that people are committed to the state for mental health reasons. The first is a civil commitment or restoration of competency; if any party determines that the person doesn’t seem fit to stand trial, the judge can commit an individual. There are currently nine (9) beds at the Idaho Maximum Security Institute (IMSI) for the DMI population, and they are considered civil commitments. The Legislature did not fund this project during the 2023 legislative session. Still, the Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) and Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) would like to see this as a priority during the 2024 legislative session.
If the DMI does not receive funding, a policy piece will change that a clinician gives an opinion of the mental state, an expansion of the definition of dangerous behavior, how many requirements need to be met, and other small cleanup changes. Senator Ricks (R-34) spoke to the legislation, stating he likes the legislation but asked about the timeline of recommendation. A patient needs to be seen within seven days of being committed; he wanted to ensure the patient was not sitting awaiting screening for an extended period; this is also to prevent events from months ago from being the sole reason they were in the facility. If the DMI facility receives funding, the entire section could be repealed. Representative Green (D-18) motioned to endorse the proposed changes to DMI statute Title 66, Chapter 13, and Senator Ricks (R-34) seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously and will receive support.
Laura Kiehl gave an update on the Sequential Intercept Mapping (SIM) for Idaho. The most recent mapping report completed were in Ada and Boise Counties. Bonneville County also just conducted its workshop; this allowed stakeholders and legislators to begin finding the gaps and needs of the communities. This analysis includes services, housing, and specific regional needs. The Idaho Supreme Court has sponsored the mapping in all judicial districts. Counties created their reports, which will all become available on the Idaho Behavioral Health Council website.
Idaho has fully implemented the 988 hotlines, but IDHW has had trouble finding providers. When the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan (IBHP) is awarded, the council hopes the private sector will utilize their providers to use their services beyond the mobile crisis units.
In the next week, all four Youth Crisis Centers will open, and the first CCBHC opened just last week. The other three CCBHCs will open and serve clients within the following year. Administrator Edmunds is also excited about the ongoing funding for the recovery housing. Senator Ricks requested additional information on CCBHCs and how he can help further these efforts.
Director of IDOC, Josh Tewalt, spoke on implementing IDOC Diversion Grants moving forward without rollover authority. Canyon County was a strong proposal applicant for targeting individuals before entering the criminal justice system, utilizing SIM 0 and 1 and key partnerships in the county. This proposal was a result of a SIM workshop in Canyon County.
Director Omundson thanked the group for joining and looks forward to the next Council meeting on August 11, 2023. The Council is very excited the new members are becoming more comfortable with the group. The Council will determine recommendations for the 2024 legislative session during the next meeting.